Helmet eyeshield adjustor



March 19, 1963 J. c. MILLER HELMET EYESHIELD ADJUSTOR Filed Sept. 1. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H15 AfraRNA-KS March'19, 1963 J. c. MILLER HELMET EYE SHIELD ADJUSTOR Filed Sept. 1; 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Office 3,081,460 Patented Mar. 19, 1963 3,081,460 HELMET EYESHIELD ADJUSTOR John C. Miller, Anaheim, Calif, assignor to Mine Safety Appliances Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Sept. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 53,568 Claims. (Cl. 26)

This invention relates to protective helmets such as worn by aircraft pilots and the like, and more particularly to those provided with transparent eyeshields.

In Patent 2,798,221, a helmet is shown that is provided with an eyeshield that can be raised and lowered by means of a knob sliding in a slot in a protective plate above it. The eyeshield can be held in several different positions by locking it to the plate. The present invention is directed to an improvement on the adjusting and locking means shown in that patent.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a helmet with an eyeshield, which normally is locked in any one of several positions to a member between it and the helmet, and which can be released by pressing on a button to pull a locking pin outward.

In accordance with this invention, a track is secured to the front of a helmet in a central position and extends vertically thereof. The central portion of the track is provided with a row of longitudinally spaced holes. Extending across the track there is a transparent eyeshield that has a central opening near its upper edge. A-slide is mounted on the track and is provided with a stem fitting in the eyeshield opening. Secured to the stem is a knob for moving the slide and eyeshield along the track. The knob and slide have a passage through them in the plane of the row of holes. Slidably disposed in the passage is a locking pin, which has its inner end inserted in one of the track holes and its outer end projecting from the passage. The knob is provided with a circular rib concentric with the pin and spaced from it. Extending across the rib is a normally concave snap spring provided with a central opening that receives the outer end of the pin. A button is secured to the outer edge of the spring for pushing that edge toward the eyeshield to cause the spring to snap outward and pull the pin out of a track hole. When the button is released, the spring Will snap back so that the pin can enter another hole.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrat ed in the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a front view of a helmet, with parts broken away and showing the eyeshield in its upper position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view, with portions broken away in central vertical section;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken on the line IIIIII of FIG. 2; v

FIG. 4 is a still further enlarged section of the adjustor, showing the locking pin released from the track; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section of the adjustor, taken on the line V-V of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the helmet 1 may be constructed of any suitable material and have any desired form, the one shown being a conventional type of crashhelmet. The front of the helmet comes down over the forehead and has an edge 2 extending across the brows above the eyes. Extending above and below this front edge at opposite ends thereof is a pair of tracks 3, each of which is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 4. Connected to these tracks by screws 6 are the opposite ends of a thin protective plate 7, which extends across the front of the helmet and is molded to'conform to the curvature of the helmet. Most of the plate is spaced from the helmet a short distance, but its upper edge is curved back into engagement with the helmet. Consequently, an inverted pocket 8 is formed between the plate and the helmet, the bottom of the pocket being open along the lower edge of the plate.

Slidably mounted in the track grooves 4 are the opposite ends of a transparent eyeshield 9, which can be made of plastic, either clear or tinted. The eyeshield can be moved from an operative position in front of the eyes up into pocket 8 when the shield is not in use. The central lower part of the eyeshield is provided with a large notch 10 for receiving the nose of the wearer when the shield is in its lower position.

It is a feature of this invention that a track 12 is fastened to the front of the helmet inside pocket 8, in a posi tion midway between the sides of the pocket. The track extends vertically; that is, downwardly from a point near the top of the pocket to a point near its open bottom. The track has a central portion that engages the helmet, but its opposite sides are offset forward to form flanges 13 spaced from the helmet. The central portion of the track is provided with a row of longitudinally spaced holes 14 and, if desired, the holes can extend into or through the adjoining wall of the helmet. A slide 16 is mounted on the track, preferably by being provided with hooks 17 at its opposite sides that receive the track flanges. At the center of the slide there is an integral stem 18 encircled at its base by a shoulder 19. The stem extends snugly through an opening 20 in the overlying eyeshield near its upper edge, and also preferably extends beyond the shield, Where its outer end portion is reduced and threaded.

Screwed tightly on the outer end of the slide stem is a knob 22, the inner end of which projects radially from the stem to form a shoulder 23. A coil spring 24 encircles the stem between this shoulder and the eyeshield and presses the latter against slide shoulder 19 to hold the parts firmly together. The body of the knob is provided with a central recess 26 that opens outwardly, and slide 16 is provided with an axial passage 27 that opens into the recess. Slidably disposed in this passage is a locking pin 28, the inner end of which projects into one of the track holes 14. The outer end of the pin projects into the knob recess and is provided with a head 29 containing a peripheral groove 30. The head is encircled by a rib 31 integral with the bottom of the knob recess a short distance away from the pin and from the side wall of the recess.

Slidably mounted in knob recess 26 is a button 33 that resembles a shallow inverted cup. The lower edge of the button is bent outward to form a flange 34 beneath a snap ring 35 that holds the button in the knob. The button flange also is doubled back on itself to form a circular groove that receives the outer edge of a snap spring, preferably a disc 36. The disc normally is concave and has a central opening 37 that receives the head 29 of the locking pin. The inner edge of the disc is seated in groove 343. Slots 38 radiate outward in the disc from its. central opening, forming triangular segments 39 between them.

When it is desired to move the eyeshield down to a lower position, all that it is necessary to do is to depress button 33 and then slide knob 22 along the track, which will move the eyeshield. When the button is pressed, it will push the outer edge of the spring disc towardthe eyeshield and thereby will cause the segments of the spring to fulcrum 0n knob rib 31. That will cause the central portion of the disc to snap outward and pull the locking pin away from the track. After the eyeshield has been moved to a new position the button is released, whereupon the spring disc will snap back to its original position and push the pin into any track hole that happens to be beneath it.

With the eyeshield adjusting and locking device disclosed herein, the perforated member for the locking pin can be firmly mounted on the helmet shell itself, and yet the locking pin can be withdrawn by pushing a button. In other words, the pin is pulled outward by pressing the button inward, which is the easiest way to actuate the button.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. The combination with a helmet, of a track secured to the front of the helmet centrally thereof and extending vertically, the track having a central portion provided with a row of longitudinally spaced holes, a transparent eyeshield extending across the track and having a central opening near its upper edge, a slide mounted on the track and having a stem fitting in said eyeshield opening, a knob secured to said stem for moving the slide and eyeshield along the track, the slide having a passage therethrough in the plane of said row of holes, a locking pin slidably disposed in said passage with its inner end inserted in one of said holes and its outer end projecting from the passage, the knob being provided with a circular rib concentric with the pin and spaced therefrom, a normally concave snap spring provided with a central opening receiving the outer end of the pin, the spring extending across said rib and having its central portion operatively connected with the outer end of the pin, and a button secured to the outer edge of the spring for pushing said edge toward the eyeshield to cause said central portion to snap outward and pull the pin out of a track hole, the spring being adapted to snap back when the button is released.

2. In the combination recited in claim 1, a coil spring encircling said stem and compressed between said knob and eyeshield for holding the latter tightly against said slide.

3. The combination with a helmet, of a track secured to the front of the helmet centrally thereof and extending vertically, the track having side flanges spaced from the helmet and connected by a central portion provided with a row of longitudinally spaced holes, a transparent eyeshield extending across the track and having a central opening near its upper edge, a slide on the track hooked onto said flanges and having a stem fitting in said eyeshield opening, a knob secured to said stern for moving the slide and eyeshield along the track, means holding the eyeshield against the slide, the knob and slide having a passage therethrough in the plane of said row of holes, a locking pin slidably disposed in said passage with its inner end inserted in one of said holes and its outer end projecting from the passage, the knob being provided with a circular rib concentric with the pin and spaced therefrom, a normally concave snap spring provided with a central opening receiving the outer end of the pin, the spring extending across said rib and having its central portion operatively connected with the outer end of the pin, and a button secured to the edge of the spring for pushing said edge toward the eyeshield to cause said central portion to snap outward and pull the pin out of a track hole, the spring being adapted to snap back when the button is released.

4. The combination with a helmet, of a track secured to the front of the helmet centrally thereof and extending vertically, the track having a central portion provided with a row of longitudinally spaced holes, a transparent eyeshield extending across the track and having a central opening near its upper edge, a slide mounted on the track for movement only lengthwise thereof and having a stem fitting in said eyeshield opening, a knob secured to said stem for moving the slide and eyeshield along the track, the knob being provided with an outwardly opening recess provided with a circular rib spaced from the center of the knob and the side wall of the recess, means holding the eyeshield against the slide, the slide having a passage therethrough in the plane of said row of holes, the outer end of the passage opening into the center of said recess, a locking pin slidably disposed in said passage with its inner end inserted in one of said holes and its outer end projecting into said recess, a normally concave snap spring in said recess provided with a central opening receiving the outer end of the pin, the spring extending across said rib and having its central portion operatively connected with the outer end of the pin, and a button secured to the outer edge of the spring for pushing said edge toward the eyeshield to cause said central portion to snap outward and pull the pin out of a track hole, the spring being adapted to snap back when the button is released.

5. The combination with a helmet, of a track secured to the front of the helmet centrally thereof and extending vertically, the track having a central portion provided with a row of longitudinally spaced holes, a transparent eyeshield extending across the track and having a central opening near its upper edge, a slide mounted on the track and having a stem fitting in said eyeshield opening, a knob secured to said stem for moving the slide and eyeshield along the track, the knob being provided with an outwardly opening recess provided with a circular rib spaced from the center of the knob and the side wall of the recess, the slide having a passage therethrough in the plane of said row of holes, the outer end of the passage opening into the center of said recess, a locking pin slidably disposed in said passage with its inner end inserted in one of said holes and its outer end projecting into said recess, a normally concave snap spring in said recess provided with a central opening receiving the outer end of the pin, the spring extending across said rib and having its central portion operatively connected with the outer end of the pin, a cup-like button disposed in said recess and having an inner edge portion projecting radially and secured to the outer edge of the spring for pushing said edge toward the eyeshield to cause said central portion of the spring to snap outward and pull the pin out of a track hole, and a snap ring projecting from the side wall of said recess and overlying said inner edge portion of the button to lock the button in the knob, the spring being adapted to snap back when the button is released.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,355,951 Coifeen et a1 Aug. 15, 1944 2,798,221 Bailey et a1. July 9, 1957 2,858,920 Doble Nov. 4, 1958 2,952,453 Haussermann Sept. 13, 1960 

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A HELMET, OF A TRACK SECURED TO THE FRONT OF THE HELMET CENTRALLY THEREOF AND EXTENDING VERTICALLY, THE TRACK HAVING A CENTRAL PORTION PROVIDED WITH A ROW OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED HOLES, A TRANSPARENT EYESHIELD EXTENDING ACROSS THE TRACK AND HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING NEAR ITS UPPER EDGE, A SLIDE MOUNTED ON THE TRACK AND HAVING A STEM FITTING IN SAID EYESHIELD OPENING, A KNOB SECURED TO SAID STEM FOR MOVING THE SLIDE AND EYESHIELD ALONG THE TRACK, THE SLIDE HAVING A PASSAGE THERETHROUGH IN THE PLANE OF SAID ROW OF HOLES, A LOCKING PIN SLIDABLY DISPOSED IN SAID PASSAGE WITH ITS INNER END INSERTED IN ONE OF SAID HOLES AND ITS OUTER END PROJECTING FROM THE PASSAGE, THE KNOB BEING PROVIDED WITH A CIRCULAR RIB CONCENTRIC WITH THE PIN AND SPACED THEREFROM, A NORMALLY CONCAVE SNAP SPRING PROVIDED WITH A CENTRAL OPENING RECEIVING THE OUTER END OF THE PIN, THE SPRING EXTENDING ACROSS SAID RIB AND HAVING ITS CENTRAL PORTION OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH THE OUTER END OF THE PIN, AND A BUTTON SECURED TO THE OUTER EDGE OF THE SPRING FOR PUSHING SAID EDGE TOWARD THE EYESHIELD TO CAUSE SAID CENTRAL PORTION TO SNAP OUTWARD AND PULL THE PIN OUT OF A TRACK HOLE, THE SPRING BEING ADAPTED TO SNAP BACK WHEN THE BUTTON IS RELEASED. 